Sanitronic 7 mods

[calv]

Hi! I’m new and I’ve caught the vintage vacuum bug. Picked up a Sanitronic 7 and a Hoover/Eureka convertible together for 1 whole dollar at an estate sale. Both work and in decent condition! My focus currently is the Sanitronic 7. I love it. Wondering if there are ways to refine/clean/upgrade motor to get extra power/suction. If not, cool. If so, curious. Also wondering if anyone has come up with an insert for the bag. I’ve got a lot of old built up dust and thorough inversion and light water cleaning is soon to happen but I’m wondering if anyone has come up with a way to retrofit any kind of HEPA filter or anything more modern to aid it’s cleaning. Looking forward to hearing from this community!

 

[hmc1981]

Welcome!

And, nice S7!

As for any power modifications, I can’t say that there are any, but maybe others on here will know of something - but I’ve never heard of any.

As far as the bag. There have been some topics on here in the past about HEPA conversions, I’d search archives... One thing that I have done, and it’s far from HEPA filtration—- is after cleaning the bag and vacuuming out all the dirt and debris (inside and out), before reinstalling, I put a stocking (not too thick, not too thin) over the emtor opening and then install the bag over that. The stocking will help keep the inner walls of the bag dust free, and in my experience makes a fairly decent difference as far as filtration. The stockings are fairly cheap so, once they fill, remove and replace with a new one. Another way (to keep from having to remove the bag each time is to install the stocking in the front opening of the emtor - where it connects to the exhaust on the machine - and be sure to fit the o-ring over it so it keeps a nice seal. The downside to that setup is that you have to replace more frequently, as if it gets too full, it won’t pull out from the smaller front opening. That’s just a “rig it and run” way of doing it, but it does make a difference.

You can always install a fill tube on the top emtor opening (search archives) and have a zipper installed on the bag to function like newer machines - but then you will be altering an original bag.

In any case, I hope this information helps, or at least gives some inspiration to a whole new idea.

Welcome and hope you enjoy the site!

 

[calv]

Thanks!

I guess what I’m thinking is that there’s probably a bit of a market in making a ‘canister’ attachment to swipe out for the Sani-Emptor and bag. Or a canister to replace the bag on top of the Sani-Emptor but that wouldn’t be very user-friendly.


...maybe I just need to look for a canister vacuum

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

calv

The only modification I can think of would be to use the motor group from a Dual Sanitronic 50 and 80, and its speed switch. You would also have to route the wires to both the foot switch and speed switch correctly.

If you do undertake this, please note the newer field coil used on the D80 since June 1968 will not adapt to the older foot switch as used on your Sanitronic VII.

~Ben

 

[kirby519]

You must be thinking of a reusable dust cup to swap out. Years a go James Keeler came up with a bagless dirt collection system for the Kirby. Didn't go well.

If you do a search for James Keeler you will find more about him.

https://www.abbysguide.com/vacuum/reviews/r515.html

 

[human]

I have no idea if it would work for your machine but you could try replacing the entire emptor and bag assembly with one off of a Heritage/Legend series machine (Heritage, Heritage II, Heritage II Legend, Legend II). If the diameter and bayonet lugs on the motor exhaust are the same as yours, you're in business. I did this on a Heritage 1HD I got earlier this year. I replaced the original dump bag setup with the corresponding filter bag assembly off of a Heritage II and then later replaced the gray H2 outer bag with the appropriate orange one for the Heritage. I've also read in this forum about a conversion that uses Eureka F&G style bags but if I recall correctly, that setup is somewhat less efficient and apparently loses a bit of suction. Either way, I don't blame you for wanting to get rid of the dump bag.

 

[superocd]

I'm assuming that the "chassis" of the S7 is the

...the D50/D80. I have a D50 modified to take disposable bags. What I did was I purchased a mini Emptor for a Heritage II and installed it on the exhaust horn of the motor unit. It fits just fine. I then installed my D50 bag, which had been modified for a zipper at the rear -- most drycleaners do alterations and it only cost me $15 to get a zipper installed. This setup works great for me and is a great combination of vintage and modern technology. If I ever get another 5xx machine or a Classic/Classic Omega, I'll repeat this mod, though I'm not sure how one would go about a zippered bag with a HEPA disposable retrofit on the real early 5xx/C-series machines since the exhaust horns are very different from the later 5xx/Sanitronic series. I suppose one could modify the original emptor, but the emptor tray gaskets aren't perfect and might have a tendency to defeat the purpose of a HEPA retrofit.

If you are going through the effort of a HEPA mod, make sure that your fancase is sealed well with silicone or duct sealer. Also make sure that the floor nozzle gasket and emptor gasket are in good condition.

 

[kirby519]

The Heritage II Legend II Mini emptor boot will fit that machine.

 

[lesinutah]

Emsil

Hey
Did you get my email?
The emtors from the 516 (1956)-heritage 2 legend 2.
If you get a 2.5" of pc pipe, 2 45 degree fittings. You can put that right inside the exhaust and behind bag emtors connector. Then you could
Use f&g setup. I.have tried this and it works well.
The reason the f&g setup with no emtor .is bad because it restricts airflow. The emtor provides throttle needed.
Les

 

[kirbyclassiciii]

calv

I forgot to mention you also have to change the fan case to the version that allows the use of the dual speed switch.

~Ben